Area Code 271 – Orgão/São Jorge

Overview of Cape Verde Area Code 271

Area code 271 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Orgão/São Jorge region on Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Santiago is the largest and most populous island in the archipelago, hosting the capital city of Praia. The code 271 specifically serves the central-eastern part of the island, covering the administrative areas of Orgão and São Jorge, which are located inland from the eastern coast. This region is characterized by its mountainous terrain and agricultural communities, with the town of Orgão serving as a local administrative hub.

Dialing Formats and Usage

When calling a fixed-line number in the Orgão/São Jorge area from within Cape Verde, subscribers must dial the full national number, which consists of the area code 271 followed by a 5-digit subscriber number. For example, a local call would be placed as 271 XX XX XX (where X represents the subscriber digits). No trunk prefix (such as '0') is used in Cape Verde's national dialing plan; the NDC is always dialed directly.

For international callers, the Cape Verde country code +238 must be dialed before the area code and subscriber number. Thus, an international call to this region would be formatted as +238 271 XX XX XX. It is important to note that Cape Verde uses a closed numbering plan, meaning the national significant number (NSN) is always 7 digits long, comprising the 3-digit area code and the 5-digit local number.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Context

The 271 code is one of several geographic area codes assigned to Santiago Island. While the capital Praia uses code 261, the 271 area covers the more rural and semi-urban districts of Orgão and São Jorge. These areas are part of the municipality of São Lourenço dos Órgãos, which is known for its scenic landscapes and the Pico de Antónia peak. The region is primarily residential and agricultural, with limited commercial activity compared to the capital.

Caller Instructions

Local callers within Cape Verde should dial the 7-digit national number directly (e.g., 271 XX XX XX). International callers must use the international access code of their country (e.g., 00 from most countries, or + from mobile phones), followed by Cape Verde's country code 238, and then the 7-digit number. For example, from the United States, you would dial 011 238 271 XX XX XX.

As of the latest ITU-T E.164 guidelines, no overlay codes have been introduced for this area, and the 271 code remains exclusively assigned to the Orgão/São Jorge region. All fixed-line numbers in this area are provisioned by the incumbent operator, Cabo Verde Telecom, and are used for traditional PSTN and VoIP services.